In summary, I concluded that the majority of resolutions fail because only a small percentage of people with resolutions ever do something about it.

Don't let this happen to you.

Whatever your goals are for the New Year, I urge you to put them into action. Don't wait any more. Action creates results.

If you're really serious about making some changes this year, here are some surefire ways to make them happen.

1. Schedule a Meeting to Map Your Way

Stay with me here. You wouldn't drive anywhere without knowing the way, why would you feel any different for something as important as you. Ask yourself an important question like "Where do I want to be, one year from now." And write down your response. This will give you a clear indication on the direction you need to go.

2. Have a Daily Planning System

We know from above it would be just plain wrong to drive somewhere without knowing the way. It's just as important to know why you're going there. Writing down your goals will effectively prove their worth to you, and give you the reason to start driving toward them.

3. Define Your Key Results

Key results provide an indication of your progress toward your goals. These will be milestones or signs that you're heading in the right direction. It's important to determine your key results and write them down, so you know you're on track.

4. Take Action

Action creates results. Now is the time to take everything you know about your desired goals, and prioritize your activities to achieve results. You can do this by selecting the most productive actions to reach your key results.

The important thing is that you take the actions that will give you the best chance of reaching your objectives. Remember to write these down so you have a concise roadmap to succeed.

5. Give Yourself a Reward

If you've followed the above for any length of time you're bound to be making accomplishments. Rewarding yourself will motivate you to further reach your goals. You can now appreciate the fact that you are one of the motivated 5% who made it! Pat yourself on the back - you deserve it.

Once you've experienced the power of this kind of goal-setting, it will be hard to do it any other way. But don't delay; take the time right now to define your goals for 2014.

Good ideas but one thing that's also important is creating habits around your goals. I've written about creating habits here and I think anyone who implements these ideas will succeed with their resolutions.

I think one of the problems is that people make resolutions that they feel they should make rather than actually want to do.

The most common resolutions are to quit smoking and lose weight. Things that society (quite correctly in most cases) insist are good ideas. However many people enjoy smoking or the habits that lead to being overweight...at least until it impacts their health.

A better idea for many might be to try and change their overall mindset rather than individual habits. That is, admittedly, a much harder goal to define though.

I just got back from the store....right by a gym....parking lot was CROWDED....but I know, from being a gym rat for the past 25 years, that these folks will disappear today - 7 days in - and then more, 10 days out.....and by March, 95% or more will be gone.

Most people are more COMFORTABLE being miserable than they are HUNGRY to make something of themselves. You gotta really, really, really want something to make uncomfortable but freeing decisions, to make that dream happen.

I just got back from the store....right by a gym....parking lot was CROWDED....but I know, from being a gym rat for the past 25 years, that these folks will disappear today - 7 days in - and then more, 10 days out.....and by March, 95% or more will be gone.

Most people are more COMFORTABLE being miserable than they are HUNGRY to make something of themselves. You gotta really, really, really want something to make uncomfortable but freeing decisions, to make that dream happen.

Good stuff!

True words!

I know this phenomenon as well from my gym days. Most of them don’t even make it to the end of the first two weeks! I found a good quote from Tony Robbins about that!

“One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.” (Anthony Robbins)

I just got back from the store....right by a gym....parking lot was CROWDED....but I know, from being a gym rat for the past 25 years, that these folks will disappear today - 7 days in - and then more, 10 days out.....and by March, 95% or more will be gone.

Most people are more COMFORTABLE being miserable than they are HUNGRY to make something of themselves. You gotta really, really, really want something to make uncomfortable but freeing decisions, to make that dream happen.

That daily planning system is very important. One success secret is to not start the day until it is finished on paper. This is a habit we should do before we go to sleep at night and we will know exactly how to tackle the day when it is started.

I help young adults who are struggling physically, spiritually, emotionally, financially and relationally to take steps today to see results in a matter of weeks without having to go through the pain of buying thousands of books, courses and counseling sessions.

That daily planning system is very important. One success secret is to not start the day until it is finished on paper. This is a habit we should do before we go to sleep at night and we will know exactly how to tackle the day when it is started.

Yeah it is a good way to write your schedule down the night before to start right away in the morning! I totally agree with that!

I think that the reason that most people give up is because they aim for perfection. For example, if they are on a diet, and they slip up on one day... they feel like they have messed up. They then go on to give up instead of realising that it's just one slip up and they should try harder and keep carrying on.
Change is always difficult.

I think that the reason that most people give up is because they aim for perfection. For example, if they are on a diet, and they slip up on one day... they feel like they have messed up. They then go on to give up instead of realising that it's just one slip up and they should try harder and keep carrying on.
Change is always difficult.

That's true the same goes for IM! people wanna setup a new website or release a new product but they try to make it perfect! With that they wasting a lot of time because there is no such thing like perfect! Sometimes even they give up completly on it! The only thing I can say is take action and better today then tomorrow!

Yeah many people do abandon there new year's resolution because of lack of discipline and laziness. It sucks that the majority of people are just lazy and conform to their daily lazy habits. Change is really not so difficult but we make it hard because are naturally prone to take the easy way out. Here's an article that may help some people out who are stuck in a rut. http://live2conquer.com/top-three-th...-the-new-year/